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Keith Haring Art Fest 2024 Kick Off

Keith Haring and a child painting a mural on the floor.
Keith Haring works with children from the Alice Smith Elementary School in Hopkins, 1984. Photographer unknown. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

Tickets & Info

Tickets & Info

Price Free

This spring Keith Haring’s iconic artwork returns to the Walker, and we’re celebrating with a three-day art festival. Join the Walker community in revisiting Haring’s unique intersection between activism and creativity.

The 2024 Art Fest kicks off with a Free Thursday Night curated by Vouge Down MPLS, a collective that has reignited the spirit of ballroom culture in Minneapolis. This festive evening filled with music, performance, and community is bringing Ballroom (culture) to the Walker.

Programming is free and open to all ages.

Activity Information

In the Main Lobby, watch a free screening of Vogueing in the North Star: The Mpls Ballroom Renaissance, a documentary that pays homage to Minneapolis’ resurgence as a hub for ballroom culture and an inclusive environment for queer POC communities.

At 5:30 pm in the Cargill Lounge, experience Unity in Motion, a captivating performance art piece and vibrant tribute to the golden era of the 1980s ballroom scene, weaving together dance, art, and the sense of community that defines this iconic period. Not just a performance, it is an immersive experience that transports audiences back in time while highlighting the timeless themes of acceptance and unity.

At 6 pm, the party moves upstairs to the Garden Terrace Room with the Art Fest Ball, emphasizing Haring’s graffiti-inspired work and his impact on Pop art. The mini ball includes live drag performance, LSS (legends, statements, and stars), Commentation, and Five Ballroom Categories (Face, Runway, Bazzar, Performance, Best Dressed).

Accessibility, Content, and Sensory Notes

Content note: Several works in this exhibition contain mature content and nudity. One room in Gallery 1 includes sexually explicit imagery. Visitors do not need to walk through this room to access the rest of the exhibition.

Sensory note: Videos on view may include flickering effects or sounds that change in volume, pitch, and tone. One room glows with colorful light.

For information about accessibility or to request ASL interpretation for this program, call 612-375-7564 or email access@walkerart.org at least two weeks in advance.

For more information about accessibility at the Walker, visit our Access page.

Bio

Vogue Down MPLS stands as a beacon of empowerment, creativity, and community for the Queer BIPOC population of Minneapolis. Born from the vibrant heart of the city, this collective is more than just an organization—it’s a movement, a celebration, and a platform for expression. Led by a passionate group of Queer Black individuals, Vogue Down MPLS is dedicated to highlighting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of ballroom culture. From exhilarating vogue battles that electrify the dance floor to intimate workshops that delve into the history and significance of ballroom, Vogue Down MPLS offers something for everyone. Each event is carefully curated to foster connection, creativity, and self-expression, providing a welcoming environment where all are encouraged to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their identities.

Free Thursday Nights are sponsored by

<p>Free Thursday Nights are sponsored by</p>

Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody is organized by The Broad, Los Angeles. The Walker Art Center’s presentation is made possible with lead support from the KHR McNeely Family Fund, thanks to Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely.

Major support is provided by Lewis Baskerville, Lisa and Pat Denzer, the Martin and Brown Foundation, the Pohlad Family, and John and Annette Whaley. Additional support is provided by Jan Breyer, Keith Rivers, John Taft and Laura Delaney Taft, and Susan and Rob White.

Media Partner: The Current

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